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Ilia Malinin has already been a bright spot for Team USA at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, and he has a chance to add more hardware at his first Games.

Malinin’s score of 200.03 in the free skate portion of the combined team competition resulted in the United States taking gold in the event for the second consecutive Olympics on Feb. 8. The 21-year-old from Vienna, Virginia, known as the ‘Quad God,’ didn’t attempt a quad axle in his run, although he landed a one-legged backflip and still showed plenty of flair.

Malinin still has two more chances at earning medals, in both the men’s free skate and short program.

Malinin is one of the breakout stars of the 2026 Winter Olympics, and he’s looking to head back to the United States as one of the biggest winners of the 17-day competition.

Here’s a look at when Malinin will skate next:

When does Ilia Malinin compete next at Olympics?

Malinin hits the ice again on Tuesday, Feb. 10, in the men’s short program. It’s his second-to-last event of the Winter Olympics.

Ilia Malinin event schedule at Olympics

Here’s a look at Malinin’s remaining event schedule in Milan:

  • Tuesday, Feb. 10: Men’s short program | 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET
  • Friday, Feb. 13: Men’s free skate | 1-5 p.m. ET

How to watch Ilia Malinin in Olympics

Here’s how to watch Malinin at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy:

  • TV channel: NBC, USA Network
  • Streaming: Peacock

Each Olympic event can be viewed live with Peacock, NBC’s exclusive streaming service, or NBCOlympics.com. NBC and USA Network will also air highlights and select live events on TV.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

The House of Representatives is readying to vote on a bill that would mandate photo identification for voters across the United States in the coming 2026 midterm elections.

The House Rules Committee, the final gatekeeper before most bills see a chamber-wide vote, advanced the SAVE America Act on Tuesday as conservatives continue to pressure the Senate to take up the bill after its likely House passage.

It’s a sweeping piece of legislation aimed at keeping non-citizens from participating in U.S. elections.

Democrats have attacked the bill as tantamount to voter suppression, while Republicans argue that it’s necessary after the influx of millions of illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. during the four years of the Biden administration.

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told reporters it would get a vote on Wednesday.

The legislation is led by Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, in the House, and Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, in the Senate.

It is an updated version of Roy’s Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which passed the House in April 2025 but was never taken up in the Senate.

Whereas the SAVE Act would create a new federal proof of citizenship mandate in the voter registration process and impose requirements for states to keep their rolls clear of ineligible voters, the updated bill would also require photo ID to vote in any federal elections.

It would also require information-sharing between state election officials and federal authorities in verifying citizenship on current voter rolls and enable the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to pursue immigration cases if non-citizens were found to be listed as eligible to vote.

The legislation is highly likely to pass the House, where the vast majority — if not virtually all — Republicans have supported similar pushes in the past.

But in the Senate, where current rules say 60 votes are needed to overcome a filibuster and hold a final vote on a bill, at least seven Democrats would be needed even if all Republicans stuck together.

It’s why House conservatives are pushing Senate GOP leaders to change rules in a way that would effectively do away with the 60-vote threshold, even if alternative paths mean paralyzing the upper chamber with hours of nonstop debate.

‘[Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D.] will take it up. The only question is, will he take it up in an environment where it can pass?’ Roy posed to Fox News Digital on Tuesday. 

‘My view is that the majority leader can and should. I’m not afraid of amendment votes…we should table all their amendments, force them to run through all their speaking, make them take the floor and filibuster.’

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

Montana football linebacker Solomon Tuliaupupu doesn’t need to create a LinkedIn account quite yet.

Tuliaupupu was granted a ninth season of eligibility by the NCAA on Monday, Feb. 9, Montana announced via social media. The former USC defender started his career in 2018.

He’s believed to be the longest-tenured player in college football history, tied with former Oregon and Miami tight end Cam McCormick, who completed his ninth season of eligibility after the 2024 season.

Tuliaupupu suffered season-ending injuries in both 2018, 2020 and 2023 at USC. The 2025 season was his first at Montana and third overall with game action, and he finished the campaign with 43 total tackles, two sacks and two forced fumbles.

He recorded 10 total tackles with 2.5 sacks as a redshirt senior at USC in 2022, his first season of game action. He then missed the 2023 season before registering 13 total tackles and a sack in seven games of the 2024 season, which ended prematurely due to illness.

The Santa Ana, California, product was a high-end recruit in the 2017 high school class, tabbed as the No. 86 player nationally and No. 3 inside linebacker, according to 247Sports’ Composite rankings. He was on USC’s roster for four seasons under former coach Clay Helton, who was fired midway through the 2021 season.

Tuliaupupu comes from the same recruiting class as NFL stars like Trevor Lawrence, Micah Parsons and Patrick Surtain Jr., who are all reaching veteran status as pros. He was even teammates with All-Pro receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown in high school.

Tuliaupupu has taken advantage of his time in college. He received his bachelor’s degree in business administration in 2022, before earning his master’s degree in project management.

One more season awaits the college football veteran at one of the top FCS programs in the country.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

  • Ilia Malinin delivered a strong performance in the men’s short program at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
  • He earned a score of 108.16, placing him in first ahead of Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama.
  • Malinin holds a five-point lead going into the free skate on Friday, Feb. 13.
  • The American skater is the only one to land a backflip multiple times in a Winter Olympics.

MILAN — When Ilia Malinin came out for the men’s short program warmups, he delivered a combination of jabs and uppercuts to the camera, simulating a boxer right before a prize-fight.

It was a preview to the rest of the field: The No. 1 contender is coming to the ring, and he’s coming for the world championship.

After his sensational free skate secured Team USA gold in the team event on Sunday, Malinin returned to the ice on Tuesday and looked every bit like what everyone expected him to be at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Malinin was the man in the arena, and he earned a standing ovation for it. 

“I definitely felt like I was in a better zone this time,” he said.

There wasn’t a quad Axel, but Malinin did just about everything right in his second go-around with the program after his first run wasn’t as sharp as it was expected to be. His opening quad flip wasn’t perfect, but it was right on the edge of it. He only improved from there, including the outstanding quad lutz-triple toe loop combination that really proved he was on top of his game.

He topped it off with the signature backflip, the third time he’s executed it in his three performances here, the only skater to ever land it multiple times in a Winter Olympics. 

The scary part? He said he was just cruising the entire time.

“I really just push the autopilot button and just let it produce,” Malinin said. 

The 21-year-old got a much better score this time around compared to what he had in the team event — a whopping 108.16 to put himself in first place, with Yuma Kagiyama of Japan – who beat him in the team event – left to compete.

Kagiyama couldn’t replicate the performance and finished second with a score of 103.07.

Will Ilia Malinin win a gold medal?

Although not large, a five-point lead is substantial for Malinin heading into the free skate on Friday, Feb. 13, after which an Olympic champion will be crowned. Kagiyama and Adam Siao Him Fa of France, who sit in second and third, respectively, after the short program, will need the performances of their lives — or a disastrous outing from Malinin — to spoil the coronation.

Malinin’s free skate effort in the team competition was heroic, but it wasn’t a perfect outing for the “Quad God,” and he scored a 200.03. Kagiyama didn’t handle the free skate duties for Japan, but his season-best in it is a 193.64. Siao Him Fa’s best free skate of the season is a 196.08.

The pressure could be on Malinin, but he isn’t fazed.

“Having that attention, all those eyes on you, that pressure really shows you who you truly are on the ice,” he said. “It’s another skill to be able to perform it under pressure. I think that’s something I really enjoy.”

The rest of the field better prepare, because Malinin is one punch away from landing the knockout blow.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

Super Bowl 60 was a defensive battle for the first three quarters of play. The Seattle Seahawks held the upper hand all game over the New England Patriots en route to a second Super Bowl title in franchise history.

Behind a dominant effort up front, Seattle harassed Patriots quarterback Drake Maye and left little room for his playmakers to get open. Super Bowl MVP running back Kenneth Walker III paced the Seahawks’ offense until they finally broke through and reached the end zone in the fourth quarter.

Seattle led 9-0 at halftime before Grammy Award-winning artist Bad Bunny put on a show featuring the likes of Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin.

Super Bowl 60 had something for everyone – casual fans and NFL enthusiasts alike. Seattle’s dominant defense, late scoring, Bad Bunny’s performances and the usual array of interesting commercials.

Now that the dust’s settled on the biggest television event of the year, how many people tuned in to watch Super Bowl 60? Here’s what we know.

How many people watched the Super Bowl?

That average is second all-time behind the record set by Super Bowl 59 of 127.71 million viewers. The Philadelphia Eagles’ victory over the Kansas City Chiefs was the most-watched television event in U.S. history.

Super Bowl viewership history

Here’s a history of the total viewership of each Super Bowl dating back to the first one on Jan. 15, 1967, according to Nielsen Media Research:

  • Super Bowl 60: 124.9 million
  • Super Bowl 59: 127.71 million
  • Super Bowl 58: 123.71 million
  • Super Bowl 57: 115.09 million
  • Super Bowl 56: 101.57 million
  • Super Bowl 55: 95.87 million
  • Super Bowl 54: 102.08 million
  • Super Bowl 53: 98.95 million
  • Super Bowl 52: 104.01 million
  • Super Bowl 51: 111.97 million
  • Super Bowl 50: 112.33 million
  • Super Bowl 49: 114.81 million
  • Super Bowl 48: 112.75 million
  • Super Bowl 47: 108.69 million
  • Super Bowl 46: 111.34 million
  • Super Bowl 45: 111.04 million
  • Super Bowl 44: 106.47 million
  • Super Bowl 43: 98.73 million
  • Super Bowl 42: 97.44 million
  • Super Bowl 41: 93.18 million
  • Super Bowl 40: 90.74 million
  • Super Bowl 39: 86.07 million
  • Super Bowl 38: 89.79 million
  • Super Bowl 37: 88.63 million
  • Super Bowl 36: 86.80 million
  • Super Bowl 35: 84.33 million
  • Super Bowl 34: 88.46 million
  • Super Bowl 33: 83.72 million
  • Super Bowl 32: 90.00 million
  • Super Bowl 31: 87.87 million
  • Super Bowl 30: 94.08 million
  • Super Bowl 29: 83.42 million
  • Super Bowl 28: 90.00 million
  • Super Bowl 27: 90.99 million
  • Super Bowl 26: 79.59 million
  • Super Bowl 25: 79.51 million
  • Super Bowl 24: 73.85 million
  • Super Bowl 23: 81.59 million
  • Super Bowl 22: 80.14 million
  • Super Bowl 21: 87.19 million
  • Super Bowl 20: 92.57 million
  • Super Bowl 19: 85.53 million
  • Super Bowl 18: 77.62 million
  • Super Bowl 17: 81.77 million
  • Super Bowl 16: 85.24 million
  • Super Bowl 15: 68.29 million
  • Super Bowl 14: 76.24 million
  • Super Bowl 13: 74.74 million
  • Super Bowl 12: 78.94 million
  • Super Bowl 11: 62.05 million
  • Super Bowl 10: 57.71 million
  • Super Bowl 9: 56.05 million
  • Super Bowl 8: 51.70 million
  • Super Bowl 7: 53.32 million
  • Super Bowl 6: 56.64 million
  • Super Bowl 5: 46.04 million
  • Super Bowl 4: 44.27 million
  • Super Bowl 3: 41.66 million
  • Super Bowl 2: 39.12 million
  • Super Bowl 1: 26.75 million
This post appeared first on USA TODAY

MILAN — Laila Edwards made history as the first Black woman to represent the U.S. women’s hockey team at the Olympics. The 22-year-old added another historic first to her resume on Tuesday.

Edwards scored a goal in the third period to put an emphasis on Team USA’s 5-0 shutout win over the reigning Olympic champion Canadian team. With the goal, Edwards becomes the first Black woman to score for the U.S. women’s Olympic hockey team.

Edwards was one of three Black players on the ice during USA’s win over Canada joining Canada forward Sarah Nurse and Canada defender Sophie Jaques — marking another Olympic first. 

‘That makes me really happy. I think it just shows the growth,’ said Edwards, who also has two assists through four games, bringing her to three total points in her first Olympic appearance. ‘Representation matters, especially at the very highest level. To have three (Black women) out there, it just really makes me proud and gives me hope for the future.’

Edwards said it ‘feels good to get that first (goal),’ against archrival Canada no less. Kendall Coyne Schofield said she wasn’t surprised that Edwards found the back of the net. The University of Wisconsin’s hockey defender has eight goals, 28 assists and 36 points for the Badgers this season.

‘It was awesome. I couldn’t wait to get down to the other end of the bench as fast as I could (to celebrate), but I’ve seen it before,’ Schofield said. ‘It was an incredible goal and something she does quite often, but so proud of her, so happy for her and like I said, I wasn’t surprised to see that come out of her arsenal.’

That wasn’t the only history made on Tuesday. Five-time Olympian Hilary Knight assisted on Caroline Harvey’s goal to improve to 32 career points and tie Jenny Potter’s all-time U.S. Olympic points record.

‘She’s the best player in the world,’ U.S. forward Taylor Heise said after Team USA’s 5-0 win over Finland on Saturday.

On Tuesday, Aerin Frankel made 20 saves as the Canadian women’s hockey team was shut out for the first time in Olympic history. Canada was playing without injured captain Marie-Philip Poulin.

‘We needed players to step up today, obviously with Poulin not being there and I guess I should have made more saves,’ goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens said. ‘So. it’s just learning from that … going, playing against Finland in our last round-robin game and then after that, obviously quarterfinals are going to start.’

Desbiens added: ‘I think with (Poulin) not finishing the last game … we want her to rest and recover and obviously get better. So once we get her back, she’s going to be there to have an impact. She’s the heart of the team. There’s no secret about that.’

Harvey opened the scoring for the U.S. less than four minutes into the game and Team USA never let its foot off the gas. Hannah Bilka scored two goals, Kirsten Simms had one and Abbey Murphy added three assists.

Team USA advances to the quarterfinals with a perfect 4-0 record and leads the 10-team field in goals scored on the tournament with 20 in four games. It has three consecutive shutouts and will face host Italy next.

USA TODAY Sports was on the ground in Milan and providing live updates from the showdown between USA and Canada. Here are highlights:

Final score: USA 5, Canada 0

The USA will face Italy in the quarterfinals.

2 minutes left

5-0 USA.

Canada goalie change

Emerance Maschmeyer comes in for Ann-Renee Desbiens after the Laila Edwards goal.

USA goal: Laila Edwards scores

Laila Edwards gets the puck at center ice, skates into the zone and rips a shot through a screen for her first goal of the tournament. USA 5, Canada 0

Hilary Knight ties U.S. points record

USA captain Hilary Knight was belatedly awarded an assist on the USA’s first goal. That gives her 32 career Olympic points, tying Jenny Potter’s U.S. record.

USA power play

Jocelyne Larocque is called for holding. That’s the fourth penalty drawn by Abbey Murphy. Laila Edwards hits the post. Canada kills it off. USA now 1-for-5 on the night.

Third period underway

Canada on the power play to start. The USA kills it off.

Line change paying off for the USA

The USA moved Hannah Bilka to the Abbey Murphy-Taylor Heise line for the Canada game, and Bilka has two goals. ‘Both incredible players and Murph just made the really nice two passes and I just put them in,’ Bilka told NBC.

End of second period: USA 4, Canada 0

The Americans have pitched a shutout of the Canadians through two periods. Team USA added two goals (Kirsten Simms, Hannah Bilka) in the period to improve to 4-0 over the reigning Olympic champions. Canada was outshot 11-6 in the period and 22-10 in the entire game.

What’s an illegal hit penalty?

Bodychecking used to be illegal in international women’s hockey, but the rules were changed to allow it if it occurs in an attempt to get the puck. The penalty is called if there’s checking without an attempt to get the puck.

Canada power play

Taylor Heise is called for an illegal hit. But there’s less than eight seconds left in the second period, so the power play will carry over to the third period.

USA goal: Hannah Bilka scores again

Hannah Bilka is up to two goals on the night and Abbey Murphy has three assists after the two connected for Team USA’s fourth score of the night. Caroline Harvey was also credited with her second assist. Harvey is up to three points against Canada. USA 4, Canada 0

Canada power play

Kirsten Simms is called for an illegal hit. The USA kills it off and remains ahead 3-0.

USA power play

Kristin O’Neill is called for cross-checking. Canada kills it off.

USA power play

Canada goes short-handed after the unsuccessful challenge but kills the penalty.

USA goal: Kirsten Simms goal upheld on review

Canada’s challenge was ruled unsuccessful and the American women now lead 3-0. Simms’ goal was assisted by Tessa Janecke and Abbey Murphy, her second of the night. USA 3, Canada 0

Goal review

Kirsten Simms puts the puck in the net. A review confirms the puck went over the line. Canada challenging for goaltender interference.

USA power play

Sarah Fillier is called for interference.

Abbey Murphy injury update

Abbey Murphy appeared to be shaken up after taking a blindside hit from Canada’s Sarah Fillier. Murphy remained down on the ice and remained hunched over when she got to her feet and skated to the bench. Fillier was assessed an interference penalty for the play after review. Murphy has one assist on the night. 

Second period underway

2-0 USA.

USA men cheering on the women’s team

The U.S. men’s hockey team is at Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena cheering on the women’s team. Dylan Larkin, the Red Wings, told NBC it looked like the USA is ‘having a blast.’

End of first period: USA 2, Canada 0

The first period belonged to the Americans, who thoroughly dominated and kept the Canadians on defense a majority of the time. The U.S. women are outshooting the Canadians 11-4 and have already built a 2-0 lead heading into the second period. Team USA could be leading by more, but they were unable to convert on a power play opportunity after Canada’s Blayre Turnbill was called for an illegal hit. 

USA goal: Hannah Bilka scores

Team USA recorded a Sportscenter-worthy goal to extend its lead to 2-0 over the Canadians. Caroline Harvey connected with Abbey Murphy, who found Hannah Bilka in front of the net with an insane pass. Bilka found the back of the net at the 17:18 mark for her second goal of the 2026 Winter Olympics. USA 2, Canada 0

Midway through first period

USA leads 1-0 and leads 9-2 in shots.

USA power play

Blayre Turnbull is called for an illegal hit. Canada kills it off.

USA goal: Caroline Harvey scores

Caroline Harvey got the Americans on the board early in the first period at the 3:45 mark. Harvey buried a perfect pass from Haley Winn that to give USA a 1-0 advantage over Canada. It marked Harvey’s second goal of the 2026 Winter Olympics. She also has three assists. USA 1, Canada 0

Game underway

USA’s Aerin Frankel vs. Canada’s Ann-Renee Desbiens in net. It’s the second consecutive start for Desbiens. Frankel was rested on Monday.

What time is USA women’s hockey vs. Canada today?

  • Date: Tuesday, Feb. 10
  • Time: 2:10 p.m. ET
  • Location: Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena (Milan)

Puck drop between the U.S. women’s hockey team and Switzerland is set for 2:10 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Feb. 10 from Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan.

Where to watch USA women’s hockey vs Canada today

  • TV channel: USA Network
  • Streaming options: NBCOlympics.com | NBC Olympic App | Peacock

USA Network will broadcast Monday’s U.S. women’s hockey Group A matchup against Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Streaming options for the game include NBCOlympics.com and the NBC Olympic App (with a TV login).

You can also stream the game on Peacock, NBC’s subscription streaming service.

2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics ice hockey scores, results today: Monday, Feb. 10

This section will be updated as games are finished

  • Group B (Women’s): Japan vs. Sweden | Sweden 4, Japan 0
  • Group B (Women’s): Germany vs. Italy | Germany 2, Italy 1
  • Group A (Women’s): United States vs. Canada | USA 5, Canada 0
  • Group A (Women’s): Finland vs. Switzerland | Finland 3, Switzerland 1

Team USA lines vs. Canada

USA is swapping the left wing on the top two lines.

Team Canada lines vs. USA

What USA-Canada game means for the standings

The 3-0 USA has nine points and the 2-0 Canadians have six points heading into the game. If the USA wins in its final game in group play, it clinches the top seed in Group A. Canada would win the group if it wins in regulation. If the Canadians win in overtime, Canada’s rescheduled game against Finland on Feb. 12 would come into play.

Marie-Philip Poulin injury update

Captain Marie-Philip Poulin has been ruled out of Canada’s preliminary round matchup against the United States on Tuesday due to a lower body injury suffered in the team’s 5-1 win over Czechia on Monday, Team Canada confirmed to USA TODAY Sports hours ahead of puck drop at the Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan at 2:10 p.m. ET.

Poulin, 34, is listed as day-to-day.

Poulin took a shoulder from Czechia’s Kristyna Kaltounkova in the first period and hit the boards hard. The five-time Olympian appeared to be visibly shaken by the hit and remained down on her hands and knees for several moments. Poulin skated to the bench, but avoided putting any pressure on her right leg while leaving the ice and grimaced in pain on the bench.

U.S. women’s hockey roster for 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics

Here is the full U.S. women’s hockey roster for the Milano Cortina Olympics:

  • Goaltenders: Ava McNaughton; Aerin Frankel; Gwyneth Philips.
  • Defenders: Lee Stecklein; Cayla Barnes; Caroline Harvey; Megan Keller; Rory Guilday; Haley Winn; Laila Edwards.
  • Forwards: Kirsten Simms; Kelly Pannek; Grace Zumwinkle; Hayley Scamurra; Britta Curl-Salemme; Hilary Knight; Tessa Janecke; Hannah Bilka; Joy Dunne; Alex Carpenter; Kendall Coyne Schofield; Taylor Heise; Abbey Murphy.

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MILAN — Andrew Torgashev wondered why he was doing this to himself. Then he decided to embrace the experience.

Having traded in pizza and Panda Express for healthy cooking, Torgashev looks and feels like an Olympian athlete. He put the exclamation point on that with his performance in the 2026 Winter Games men’s short program. The 24-year-old performed so well he was in lead with an 88.94 score after his program, and while that didn’t last long, he secured his advance to the free skate with a performance nothing short of exuberant.

‘I chose to embrace the rock and roll of my program,’ Torgashev said Tuesday, Feb. 10 at Milano Ice Skating Arena. ‘I always feel like I want to be a rock star on the stage, like breaking the guitar, like having the time of my life so I was able to do that and it’s pretty sick.’

Torgashev’s performance caps a turbulent stretch in which he didn’t finish in the top five of his Grand Prix events, only to reset and rebound with a stellar outing in the free skate that earned him a second-place finish at nationals.

Still, the Olympics are a different stage, and in the lead-up to the short program, Torgashev’s nerves prickled.

‘I was shaking, I was like, why did I wish this for myself,’ he said. ‘But once I got out there, the training just took over. I have so much muscle memory with this program and with these elements that no matter how much I doubt myself, I hope it will always pull through now.

‘The first toe that I did out there before the music started, it was so wonky, I was not confident for the quad. But I’ve done this program every single day at this quality since I’ve been here so I have the reps and it’s just about executing in the moment so I’m glad I did that.’

The 5-foot-7 Floridian credited his fluidity partly to being in the best shape he’s been since he was 18.

‘I’m learning that it helps a lot to eat cleaner and be skinny, to jump and jump easily and have better consistency,’ he said. ‘The skinnier you are, the easier it is so I’m in great shape.’

Torgashev had gotten into a habit of having food delivered after long training sessions, and his choices weren’t what dietitians would prescribe for anyone. Now he eats lean proteins and vegetables and food that infuses energy rather than drains it.

‘There’s no door dashing with my mom around,’ he said. ‘I was at the rink so long, from like 9 to 6 every day, that afterwards I can get lazy at times and anytime you eat out consistently, even if you’re trying to be healthy, the calories just add up and especially at night, it’s just not good. It was everything – pizza, Panda Express, tacos.’

It’s not all lentils and lean protein now though, Torgashev planned to celebrate his short program success with a ‘slice of pizza,’ he said, and come Friday’s free skate, ‘just know I’m going to go ham.’

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

The Justice Department is signaling a broader use of federal civil rights law against protesters accused of disrupting religious worship, with officials pointing to synagogue cases as a model for future enforcement.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, who leads the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, said the department has applied the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act — a law historically associated with abortion clinic protests — to cases involving disruptions at Jewish houses of worship.

‘It was our pioneering application of the FACE Act to defend Jewish synagogues that paved the way for its use to defend churches,’ Dhillon said during remarks at an antisemitism and extremism conference at George Washington University Tuesday, describing the enforcement approach as a way to draw clear legal lines between protected speech and unlawful conduct.

The FACE Act makes it a federal offense to use force, threats of force or physical obstruction to intentionally interfere with individuals because they are exercising their right to religious worship or to an abortion. Dhillon said the statute allows federal authorities to intervene when protests cross into obstruction, intimidation or trespass at places of worship.

Dhillon cited a civil lawsuit filed by the Justice Department against protesters accused of disrupting services at a synagogue in West Orange, New Jersey, calling the case a first-of-its-kind application of the law in that context. She said the department is also reviewing similar incidents elsewhere and warned that additional enforcement actions could follow.

According to Dhillon, the Civil Rights Division has shifted toward more aggressive enforcement in response to a rise in antisemitic incidents since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel, including harassment, vandalism and disruptions of religious services.

‘Antisemitism is an American problem, not a Jewish problem,’ Dhillon said. ‘It strikes at the heart of who we are as a nation.’

She argued that allowing unlawful conduct targeting one religious group risks eroding civil rights protections more broadly, adding that the department’s approach is meant to protect all faith communities.

Beyond the synagogue protest cases, Dhillon pointed to a series of recent Justice Department actions addressing antisemitism, including major settlement agreements with Columbia University and Northwestern University to resolve federal investigations into alleged discriminatory environments, as well as civil litigation against an Oakland, California, coffeehouse accused of refusing service to visibly Jewish customers.

Dhillon also cited federal hate crime prosecutions tied to violent antisemitic attacks, saying the department is moving quickly in cases where evidence supports criminal charges.

While emphasizing that lawful protest remains protected under the First Amendment, Dhillon said physically blocking access to religious services, trespassing on synagogue property, or defying lawful police orders fall outside constitutional protections.

‘We are not just reacting,’ she said. ‘We are proactively defending the freedoms that make this nation exceptional.’

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

Senate Democrats aren’t ready to concede in their push for stringent reforms to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and are ready to buck Senate Republicans’ plans to avert a partial shutdown. 

Their resistance comes as Senate Republicans and the White House have floated a counteroffer to Democrats’ proposed DHS and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reforms. But the two sides remain far apart on a deal to fund the agency, and they are quickly running out of time.

Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., the top-ranking Senate Democrat on the Homeland Security spending panel, said he would not support another short-term DHS funding extension unless Republicans made meaningful concessions on immigration enforcement.

Murphy also dismissed the White House’s proposal as a list of ‘sophomoric talking points.’

‘We had plenty of time, they wasted two weeks,’ Murphy said. ‘They still haven’t given us any meaningful answer or response.’ 

His position is shared by several Senate Democrats who have unified around a push to codify a list of 10 DHS reforms. Those include requirements that ICE agents obtain judicial warrants, unmask and display identification, provisions Republicans have labeled red lines.

The standoff follows criticism late Monday from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., who rejected President Donald Trump’s counteroffer.

In a joint statement, the leaders said the proposal ‘is both incomplete and insufficient in terms of addressing the concerns Americans have about ICE’s lawless conduct.’ Jeffries added he would not support another short-term funding patch, known as a continuing resolution (CR), Tuesday morning. 

Schumer argued that there was plenty of time to hash out a deal. 

‘There’s no reason we can’t get this done by Thursday,’ he said. 

With Friday’s funding deadline approaching, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., teed up a backup plan Tuesday night as the risk of a shutdown grew.

Thune and Senate Republicans have warned since Trump and Schumer finalized a broader funding agreement earlier this month that Congress did not have enough time to negotiate and pass a revised DHS funding bill in just two weeks.

‘I understand that, on the other side of the Capitol, the Democrats are already objecting to that, which is no big surprise since they haven’t voted for anything yet,’ Thune said.

‘I think there are Democrats in both the House and the Senate who do want to see this addressed,’ he added. ‘I’m hopeful the conversations lead to an outcome, but we probably won’t know by the time the current CR expires.’

As with most funding fights, both parties accuse the other of failing to negotiate in good faith.

‘I’m not for putting DHS on a CR until they show us they are serious about doing something,’ Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., the top-ranking Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, told Fox News Digital.

Republicans counter that Democrats spent more than a week drafting their proposal, while the White House produced a counteroffer in less than two days.

Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., told Fox News Digital Republicans didn’t expect their counterparts to accept their offer, ‘but we didn’t accept theirs either.’ 

‘Hopefully, this is a working footprint,’ Mullin said. ‘We can start negotiating because we’re definitely not accepting their things. But the thing is, what we’re trying to do is protect the ability for ICE and our border agents to do their job. I think it’s pretty clear, though, unless the Democrats want to shut down DHS, we’re going to have to do another CR.’

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The Justice Department has installed a Missouri-based U.S. prosecutor to head the Trump administration’s election probe in Fulton County, Georgia, according to recent court records, marking the latest instance in which an out-of-state prosecutor has been tasked with a leading role in a politically charged case.

The involvement of Thomas Albus, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri, was revealed last month when he signed off on a Fulton County search warrant that authorized the FBI’s raid of a key Georgia election hub. The warrant authorized federal agents to seize a broad range of election records, voting rolls, and other data tied to the 2020 election, according to a copy reviewed by Fox News Digital.

The news, and the timing of Albus’ appointment, have sparked questions over the scope of the effort, including whether it is a one-off designed to shore up election-related vulnerabilities ahead of the midterms or part of a broader test case for expanded federal authority.

It also prompted Fulton County officials to sue the FBI earlier this month, demanding the return of the seized ballots.

The FBI’s decision to order the raid remains unclear, adding further uncertainty as to why Trump may have tapped Albus.

But the scope of the case is significant. Fulton County officials told reporters this month that FBI agents were seen carrying some 700 boxes of ballots from a warehouse near the election hub and loading them into a truck.

More answers could be revealed soon. The judge assigned to rule on Fulton County’s motion ordered the Justice Department to file by 5 p.m. Tuesday the arguments it made in its effort to obtain the search warrant. 

But it’s unclear how much information will be revealed as many of the documents are widely expected to remain under seal. 

Still, the installation comes as Fulton County emerged as ‘ground zero’ for complaints about voter fraud in the wake of the 2020 presidential elections, including from Trump, who lost the state to former President Joe Biden by a razor-thin margin.

And while it’s not the first time Trump’s Justice Department has sought to assign prosecutors to issues outside their district lines, unlike other efforts, the legality of Albus’s role in the district is likely to be upheld. 

Attorney General Pam Bondi reportedly tapped Albus last month to oversee election integrity cases nationwide, according to multiple news outlets. 

The DOJ did not immediately return Fox News Digital’s request for comment on the nature of his role in Georgia or elsewhere.

Under federal law — 28 U.S. Code § 515 — Bondi has the legal authority to appoint an individual to coordinate civil and criminal cases, including grand jury proceedings, across all federal districts nationwide. 

Albus also spent years as an assistant U.S. attorney for the Justice Department, where he helped prosecute hundreds of federal cases and jury trials, including on charges of white-collar crime, tax offenses, public corruption, and more.

Still, his installment is not completely without criticism. 

Some have played up his role as a former deputy attorney for then-Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt in 2020. 

Schmitt, now a U.S. senator, was one of 17 Republican attorneys general who filed a brief supporting Trump’s push to invalidate the election results of four battleground states after the election. 

There are key differences between his installment and the installment of former Trump lawyer Lindsey Halligan, tapped last year to serve as interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. She was also the sole prosecutor who secured the indictments against former FBI director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James.

A judge ruled in November she was illegally appointed to her role, prompting the dismissals of both cases.

Legal experts have cited differences between Halligan’s role and Albus’s role, which appears to enjoy wide protection under federal law.

‘Unlike Halligan, Albus’ appointment appears to be lawful under a federal statute that permits the attorney general to direct ‘any other officer of the Department of Justice’ to ‘conduct any kind of legal proceeding, civil or criminal … whether or not he is a resident of the district in which the proceeding is brought,’’ Barbara McQuade, a former U.S. attorney and University of Michigan Law School professor, said in a Bloomberg op-ed.

‘But sidelining Atlanta U.S. Attorney Theodore Hertzberg in favor of Albus is concerning nonetheless — especially given his ties to Trump allies.’

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